When a Veteran starts considering whether or not to file a VA Disability Claim, there are a lot of questions that he or she tends to ask. Over the last 10 years, the following are the 14 most common basic questions I am asked about ...Continue Reading

You’ve just been rated 100% disabled by the Veterans Affairs. After the excitement of finally having the rating you deserve wears off, you start asking questions. One of the first questions that you might ask is this: It’s a legitimate question – rare is the Veteran that finds themselves sitting on the couch eating bon-bons …Continue reading

That's odd Sabrina, I was just reading your post about you up coming exam. I'm 44, I fell and hurt my back and right leg during Desert Storm. I kept having trouble with my Lumbar spine and right hip. I had a bone scan in 1994 which was positive for signs of a femural head fracture and AVN. Ortho Doc's at the VA suspected I had AVN and would eventualy need a hip replacement. The next year I went back on an active reserve tour in Germany. I had a bone scan there which came up negative for anything regarding my hip. So the VA ortho doc's ruled out AVN and diagnosed SI joint pain for which I am now service connected.

Fast forward to 2010: I have a Lumbar fusion L2-S1 for DDD and spinal stenosis. Mostly to aleviate the pain radiating into my hip and down my right leg. I improved for about 3 months post surgery. Then bam! Both my legs started hurting really bad. 15 months go by with me complaining and my spine surgeon wanting to do another revision of my fusion. Finally I have had enough and get a second opinion from a respected neurosurgeon. He orders an Myelogram of my lower spine and pelvis. And guess what? I have AVN in both of my femural heads and the right hip joint has colapsed!

Now I am in awful pain which morpine doesn't seem to help much. I'm having to use a walker to get around until I can get this surgery scheduled. And best of all I am not service connected for AVN in my hips because they change there opinion in 1995. So I service connected for SI joint problems that I may not even really have. Sorry I went on a rant. My question was about general info on hip replacemt surgery. You know, what it like , how long is recovery...etc. I was hoping a member had gone through this recently. Thanks for asking. Sorry you got the long answer.

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Military Service Records - Military personnel records can include DD 214s/Separation Documents, service personnel records found within the Official Military Personnel File (OMPF), and medical Records. Military personnel records can be used for proving military service or as a valuable tool in genealogical research.

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So I've been in a basic power chair (Q6 Edge) since 2015. Late 2016 was also fitted for a TiLite TRA manual (also keeping powerchair). 2017 was approved by Tampa VA for clothing allowance for lower.

Moved to Battle Creek VA late 2017. Since then was issued new basic powerchair (Quickie P222-SE) to replace broken Q6. Still use TiLite also now can lightly ambulate with Forearm crutches.

Use crutches 50%, and both chairs 25% each.

Was approved for 1 clothing allowance this year for forearms crutches for upper.

Was denied 2nd for chair/lower that was awarded last year because Chief Prosthetic states "powerchair takes precedence, you were issued that so you are to use only the powerchair".

Also powerchair has gap between seat and leg mounts where clothes do get caught and tear. Clinician was I'll put it back in but"power chairs dont get clothing allowances", and "any review or appeal will only come back to me"

I was approved for powerchair/custom manual combo clothing allowance last year; How do I word an appeal for the lower clothing allowance this year?

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I understand what you are saying. Does it sometimes take awhile to update the VA letters and disabilities info online after it closes.....in my case on a Saturday ? Some on other posts on here says no and some say yes so I'm just curious about the inconsistency regarding that if it is yes and no.

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I understand what you are saying. Does it sometimes take awhile to update the VA letters and disabilities info online after it closes.....in my case on a Saturday ? Some on other posts on here says no and some say yes so I'm just curious about the inconsistency regarding that if it is yes and no.